This is the perfect opportunity to crush the snakes. Cliff Lee is on the mound which makes it a winnable game from the start. Bronson Arroyo is on the other side and the Phillies should have no trouble beating this guy up. He has won his last three starts against the Phillies but allowed five earned runs his last time on the mound against the lowly Cubs. Arroyo should be in for a beating tonight. Should be.

If the Phillies and D-backs played 30, 40, games, and Arizona is as bad as they seem to be, then yes — the Phillies should win more games. But over a short series, anything can happen, and usually does. 3 or 5 or 7 games are not enough for the better team to always win. Ask the Dodgers.

Mayberry I can’t figure out.
The guy started off with some promise a few years back but has continued to regress. He appears to stay healthy, is certainly a good athlete, very bright and I’m sure he cares – and he’s got that long, toned look at the plate that suggests a dangerous hitter. He’s also got that overly long swing and it doesn’t help him catch up to the ball. Unlike Howard, who is about his size, JMJ is all arms at the plate and little wrist action.

There’s just a lack of instinctive reaction there that guys with far less athleticism don’t suffer. He also seems like a really nice kid, someone who would break your heart to have to cut from the team. But like Tony Gwynn, Jr. JMJ is just not his father’s son.

Then again, between Galvis hitting .040 and Nix at .179, JMJ seems like Ty Cobb at .190.

You read it correctly.
Had I not seen it with my own eyes I would have said you were probably in a deep, deep dream and should be careful not to pee yourself.
Come to think of it, I’m feeling some moisture down there, myself.
But I think it’s just happy tinkle.

You could make a case for Utley being a costar of the game thanks to that heads up tag.
Or I should say heads up tag, again.
Most 2nd basemen would have made the initial swipe and stopped there. Utley continues to look for every possible edge.